10 people tell how being a 'sheep' affects their lives, and whether the Zodiac animal actually brings bad luck.

Chinese legend says that people born in the Year of the Sheep will have a difficult life, because sheep are often eaten by humans. The legend, however, also says that there are exceptions, and that one out of 10 "sheep people" will live an extraordinarily smooth and happy life, compared with others. "Sheep" born in summer are among the exceptions, because there is plenty of grass in the season and sheep have enough to feast on. Those born in the beginning of a lunar year, that is, in February and March of the solar calendar, are also the exceptions, because humans have just killed enough sheep for the Spring Festival, and will leave the rest to live happily until next year. The most unfortunate "sheep" are born at the end of the lunar year, in December or early January, because that's when sheep are killed for meat. However, humans' life paths vary. Below, 10 people tell how being a "sheep" affects their lives. Because Chinese now count their ages according to the solar calendar while the rotation of Zodiac animals follows the lunar calendar, the age of a sheep may not exactly be multiples of 12, the number of zodiac animals.

1. Shang Lu, female, 35, works at a television station in Beijing

Icannot remember the exact time when I first heard that people born in the Year of Sheep have an unfortunate life. I only remember hearing the saying from somebody and asking my mother if it was true. My mother assured me that I was born in July, which was a good sign of a smooth life, because sheep in July always easily find grass to eat.

I am quite a lucky person and have met few obstacles in life. I went to a top university, got a good job after graduation, and then got married at a young age. My son is 8-years-old. I love my job and my family. Everything has gone well for me.

I realized the influence of the superstition at a young age when I noticed that most of my classmates did not have the same zodiac symbols as me, and couldn't understand why people believed the saying. I didn't and don't believe it, and it doesn't affect my life at all.

My father-in-law and three friends have the same zodiac symbol as I do. It seems to me that we all live a decent and smooth life. My family and relatives seldom talk about the superstition because we don't care what it says.

I think the media should not make a big thing out of the saying. Actually, people might have already forgotten the saying if the media didn't bring up the topic every Year of Sheep.

2. Liu Qingzhi, 47, businessman in Beijing

Ibelieve people who credit miseries in life to fate or the influence of zodiac signs are cowards who are too weak to face up to life's challenges.

I heard about the saying at a very young age. At that time, there were lots of similar sayings about bad luck or fate with things people could or couldn't control, such getting a haircut during the first lunar month could cause your uncle to die.

In the past, people often had little education, so when they could not explain something rationally, they would say it was because of fate or some superstitious power. Such sayings are sometimes passed down from one generation to another. Young people are too inexperienced to make judgments by themselves, and will just believe what they are told.

It is ridiculous to believe that zodiac signs will influence someone's fate. I never talk with my child about such beliefs. I was born in the Year of Sheep, but to me, that is good, because I have less competition from peers, since many parents don't want their children to be born in the Year of Sheep.

Financially, I'm doing well, and all the people I know who were born in the Year of Sheep also live a good life.

3. Yan Jie, female, 35, doctor at a top hospital in Beijing

My mother and aunts believe in superstitions and that people born in the Year of Sheep have bad luck, but I don't care.

My grandma, one of my aunts, and a cousin were also born in the Year of the Sheep, and they are all doing well. I'm also doing great.

My grandma and aunt are better off than most people around them, and my cousin is perhaps the most successful one in the family. She lives in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, and works in the real estate industry.

I graduated from a top medical school and work at a top hospital. Looking back, it seems I'm just like everyone else who has a good life. I've had some difficulties, but they were far from being devastating

My little daughter is 3-years-old, and I don't care what zodiac sign she is. I heard that some people avoid having babies in the Year of Sheep, which I think is unnecessary.

4. Tim Li, 36, male, executive with a Beijing-based company

When I was about 8-years-old, I heard for the first time from an old person that people born in the Year of Sheep have bad luck. But then my grandfather told me only women born in the Year of Sheep have an unfortunate fate and it doesn't matter for men. But now, giving it a second thought, my grandfather must have been lying.

I was also told that it is really bad for people to be born in winter during the Year of the Sheep, because there is no grass for them to eat. People born at the beginning of the Year of the Sheep are fortunate, because sheep usually live well for a whole year before being killed for meat at the end of the year.

Many of my classmates were born in the Year of the Sheep, and as far as I know all of them have had fortunate lives. Some of them have become very rich.

I think I'm just an average man. I'm not super lucky, but not super unlucky, either.

When talking with friends and relatives, I don't avoid mentioning the belief that people born in the Year of the Sheep have bad luck. I often joke that, since I am a man, being born the Year of the Sheep doesn't affect me.

I don't believe in fate or superstitions related to zodiac signs. I think someone's life depends on his or her diligence and effort, even though luck does matter to some extent. Fate is definitely not tied to zodiac signs.

It makes sense to me that a man's character defines his fate.

5. Zhang Yi, 35, female, company executive in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province

Idon't remember when I first heard that people born in the Year of the Sheep had miserable lives. I think I was around 14 or 15, and my mother told it to me.

I have a few friends who were born in the Year of Sheep, and most are from average families and don't have rich or powerful parents.

Most of my friends believe that to some extent fate is related to one's zodiac sign, but I don't quite believe it. Every year, there are lots of new babies coming to the world, and they cannot have similar characters or fates.

My husband has a tiger zodiac sign, and my mother was initially against our relationship, because a sheep could be eaten by a tiger. But it turns out we are very happy together.

When I meet obstacles in life, I accept the reality peacefully because I tend to think it is my destiny, and then will just try hard to overcome the obstacles.

Sometimes I think I am lucky to be born in the Year of the Sheep. Most people tell me that they like people who were born in the Year of the Sheep, and I often get help from friends when I need it.

6. Wang Quan, 24, female, graduate student from Beijing

I've never been told that people born in the Year of the Sheep have bad luck, until this year when a friend raised this topic. She told me that I would probably be a workaholic, and have a bitter life. I don't agree with her. I think that compared to my parents' generation, I already have a very comfortable life.

Nonetheless, I do see myself becoming a workaholic due to my birth animal, because I think people born in the Year of Sheep are usually diligent, prudent and mild-tempered. I left my parents when I was in high school to pursue a better education in the US, and now I study in Australia. This experience used to excruciate me, but now I realized it has toughened me up and transferred me from a little girl to an independent woman.

My family appreciates Chinese traditions, but we don't believe in superstitions that much. Still, I'm going to wear red socks, red clothes and even red lipstick, purely because I love the color. Also, I saw in a fashion magazine that the color of 2015 is marsala red, so why not dress in red?

7. Bai Renzhe, 24, male, assets appraiser from Shenyang, Liaoning province

Ibelieve in every kind of superstition a little bit - horoscope, blood type, Santa Claus and Chinese zodiac symbols, but nobody told me that people born in the Year of Sheep have bad luck until I was older.

One day before my 18th birthday, my mom treated me to a hotpot feast and suddenly started talking about my birth animal, the sheep. She told me I was lucky to be born in August, because "August goats have grass to eat". For the first time I knew that maybe I was born in the wrong year.

Still, I don't really mind being a Sheep man. Maybe my life isn't so smooth, but I won't let the bad luck affect my life. 2015 is my zodiac year; I will wear red clothes to protect myself.

8. Zhang Yanan, 24, female, receptionist from Hebei

Most of my friends and classmates in school were born in the Year of the Sheep, and we talked about our zodiac symbol openly without believing in the bad luck.

I never thought that my zodiac animal would have an effect on me, until one time I was turned down at a job interview. The boss believed my birth animal didn't get along with his!

This experience doesn't serve as proof that my life is particularly unlucky. Overall, I think nobody's life is perfect and smooth. Even if I go through harsh times, I think all the troubles will the only help me grow.

9. Jin Yuxin, 24, female, student from Beijing

When I was a teenager, I heard for the first time that people born in the Year of the Sheep have bad luck. There are quite a lot of people around me born with that zodiac sign, but they all live a very good life. We don't avoid talking about the zodiac symbol.

My family and friends respect Chinese culture, and believe in superstitious traditions to some extent. However, they don't quite believe that fate is tied closely to the zodiac symbols. They follow traditions to ward off bad luck during their zodiac years, such as wearing something red, but it is more like they follow a tradition rather than they actually believe they can get good luck by doing so. After all, it will not do any harm to wear red.

Zodiac signs are a part of Chinese culture, just like the pattern of red and yellow is characteristically Chinese.

My life has been quite smooth. The reason I encountered difficulties in the past was just that I missed some good opportunities. I do my best, and the rest is out of my control.

10. Niu Ligen, 36, male, civil servant from Hebei province

I had never heard about the saying that people born in the Year of the Sheep have bad luck until I was 30 years old. People I know born with the sheep zodiac sign all have great fate. I don't believe in such sayings, although my parents and relatives believe in cultural traditions related to zodiac symbols.

My life has been smooth, and that is because I often get help from friends and relatives, and also because I'm lucky and work hard.

I'm expecting my child to be born in 2015, and I don't mind that he or she is going to be born in the Year of the Sheep. I plan to dress my child in red, although I will not wear something red, because it feels weird for a man even just to wear red stocks.

(China Daily USA 02/09/2015 page7)